Global Health Emergency: Nigeria Bolsters Defenses Against Deadly Mpox

Nigeria is intensifying its border surveillance and screening protocols in response to the escalating threat of mpox, a viral disease spreading rapidly across Africa.

Health and Social Welfare Minister Muhammad Ali Pate disclosed the measures in a statement issued by his Senior Adviser on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah.

According to Pate, the country has tightened its defenses to prevent internal infections and limit the spread of the disease.

The global health crisis was officially declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the severity of the situation. #

WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the rapid spread within Africa and beyond, urging the international community to coordinate efforts to curb the outbreak and save lives.

The current outbreak is caused by the deadlier Mpox Clade 1, specifically its variant Clade 1b, discovered in September 2023. This new strain has proven to be the most dangerous yet, with a fatality rate of up to 10% in previous outbreaks. #

The disease, which first emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now spread to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and the Central African Republic, among others. Since January 2022, Africa has recorded over 38,000 cases and 1,456 deaths, with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in the DRC alone.

To mitigate the impact, Nigeria has implemented a mandate requiring all travelers to complete an online health declaration form before entering the country. Infectious disease centers have been activated across the nation’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to bolster containment efforts. The Ports Health Services also began reinforcing these preventive measures before WHO’s declaration.

In addition to the border controls, the minister urged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based sanitizers, especially after contact with infected individuals or animals. He emphasized that coordinated action is critical to preventing further spread of the disease, which killed at least 450 people during its first outbreak in the DRC.

As the WHO urges swift global coordination to address this crisis, Nigeria remains vigilant in its fight against mpox, drawing on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to protect its citizens and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold within its borders.